Kayode Salami, a 37-year-old Pastor, has been detained by the Ondo State Police Command.
He was arrested on suspicion of raping and murdering a nursing mother inside his church.
According to reports, the deceased, Adejoke Oloje, came to the Oke-Irapada C&S Church for the first time with her cousin, one Aderonke, to worship.
It was also learned that the deceased, a nursing mother, left home with her 11-month-old infant in January of this year to remain at the church where she died.
Mrs. Deborah, the deceased’s mother, told the state-owned daily The Hope Metro that Adejoke paid her a visit in Idanre and then abruptly departed the home.
“I called her line to ask about her whereabouts, but she didn’t pick her calls. So, one day, some people told me they saw her in Alade with her cousin, Aderonke. I collected Aderonke’s phone number from their grandmother and I called her, but she said Adejoke was staying in the church, not her place,” she narrated.
“I called my daughter’s phone number and she picked it. I asked for the description of where she was staying and she obliged me. I went to the church and eventually found her. She complained about foodstuffs and I promised to bring some for her the following day. I also pleaded with her to leave the place, but she declined and I left.
“The next day, when I got to the church around past 5pm, I heard her child crying profusely. So, I moved close to see what happened. I met the door closed. So, I forced it open. To my utmost dismay, I found my daughter on the floor, with her pant already removed down her legs and I shouted for help.”
According to the victim’s mother, they immediately transported her to the hospital, where the doctor on duty confirmed her death.
She said that the incident was quickly reported to the Idanre police station, and that officers sprung into action to catch the preacher.
“When the pastor was arrested, we noticed that his trouser was torn under and he wasn’t wearing any underwear. It is a painful story and a sad moment for our family. She was with an 11-month-old child before she met her untimely death. The culprit must not go unpunished,” she pleaded.
Pastor Salami, for his part, denied r*ping and murdering the lady.
“I knew Adejoke through her sister, Aderonke. They came to my church to worship and they went home. After that day, Adejoke came back on her own to seek accommodation in the church, pending when she would get a place to stay,” he said.
“I gave her one room out of the two rooms in the church. I did not ask her what happened between her and her sister, Aderonke. I gave her Cam Gas we use in the church to cook.
“There is only one door linking my room and the room given to her to stay. So, I used to pass through her room. And I always inform her whenever I was going out or coming in.
“We did vigil together in the church and the next morning, I saw her before going to work, because I am a welder. She later came to my place of work to charge her phone around 2pm and came to collect it around 4 pm.
“I make use of the room when I have programmes in the church. My family and I rented an apartment outside. I did not r*pe her and I can’t explain how she died.”
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